Business

Red Hot Peppers

THE first five-star hotel in more than a decade has announced plans to open on the Gold Coast.

Mazda narrows losses

JAPAN'S Mazda Motor Corp says it incurred a 2.1 billion yen ($A26.9 million) net loss in the first quarter, down from Y21.52 billion ($A275.5 million).

Nothing square about these pods

THINKING outside the box has created an innovative room-in-a-box concept set to revolutionise the building industry.

Petrol cheapest on Saturday

SATURDAY is now the cheapest day to buy petrol but it's unlikely to stay that way for long, says the NRMA.

Inflation numbers ease rate fear

A BLAND set of inflation numbers is a great outcome for borrowers worried they were about to be slugged with another interest rate rise next week.

iiNet to buy AAPT from Telecom NZ

INTERNET service provider iiNet Ltd has agreed to buy AAPT for up to $60 million from Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Ltd.

Mobiles okayed on Aussie flights

YOU will soon be able to "tweet" from your domestic airline seat after the communications watchdog gave the green light for mobiles to be used during flights.

AWB, GrainCorp to merge

GRAINS marketers GrainCorp Ltd and AWB Ltd have said that the two companies will merge to create one of Australia's largest diversified agribusinesses.

Google 'blocked in China'

GOOGLE'S services in China were fully or partially blocked on Thursday with the exception of its email service, Gmail.

Austar first-half profit drops 42%

AUSTAR United Communications' first-half profit has dropped 42 per cent.

Bacteria makes a meal of bauxite

FORMER Yeppoon woman Naomi McSweeney has discovered a new species of naturally-occurring bacteria that has the potential to save industries millions of dollars.

Rate rise now off agenda for months

HOMEOWNERS look set to be spared an interest rate rise from next Tuesday's Reserve Bank board meeting.

Telstra fined for broadband access

TELSTRA has been fined $18.5 million for illegally blocking broadband competitors from using its local exchanges.

iPhone faces Android challenge

APPLE'S iPhone will likely dominate the smartphone market in the next five years, but faces strong competition from handsets using Google's Android platform.

BP says CEO Hayward to step down

BP has announced chief executive Tony Hayward will leave the troubled energy giant in October.